Segmental separators for heat treating furnaces



April 25, 1961 P. s. MENOUGH 2,981,530

SEGMENTAL SEPARATORS FOR HEAT TREATING FURNACES Filed Sept. 21, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y1" 9' LT. 9| LL if I l E (T1 g n I Q Q LL s \1 2 (2' Q LL A A l l\ v v INVENTOR. PAUL s. MENOUGH \1 (\1 BY n ATTORNEYS April 1961 P. s. MENOUGH 2,981,530

SEGMENTAL SEPARATORS FOR HEAT TREATING FURNACES Filed Sept. 21, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. F IG- 7 PAUL s. MENOUGH BY my ATTORNEYS SEGIVIENTAL SEPARATORS FOR HEAT TREATING FURNACES Paul S. Menough, Berea, Ohio, assignor to The Alloy Engineering Company Filed Sept. 21, 1959, Ser.'No. 841,166

1 Claim. (Cl. 263-47) This invention relates to separator construction intended to serve both as a separator and a gas directing channel between ladings in an annealing furnace and is a continuation-in-part application of the invention disclosed in application Serial No. 771,889, filed November 4, 1958.

Prior application Serial No. 771,889 discloses the concept of fully independent taper plate sections jointly defining a geometric pattern in a plane. Two such composite patterns are united by curved ribs to produce a new and novel double plate convector-separator.

' This invention carries the separate plate concept to another conclusion by using a plate section in one plane as themeans to establish a spaced relationship of two plate sections in the counterpart superposed pattern, with radial ribs uniting superposed plate edges to provide vertical spacing and gas passage definition. In effect, this invention provides a corrugated configuration of compact construction wherein the crests and troughs are parallel flat planes, and the connecting legs are vertical load bearing ribs. J

Stacking of metal, particularly coils ofsheet metal, one over another in a vertical furnace is now accepted practice. The furnaces have been developed to supply and distribute a flow of blown heating gas around the stacked lading to accomplish a uniform heating in the least time. Since these furnaces are well known, and

nited States atent i since, this invention does not affect the furnace or its usual operation, no furnace is shown. Reference is made to US. Letters Patent Straub 2,607,577 and Bailey, Jr.

The design of the separator is intended to aid in the uniform heating and cooling of the coil mass.

Therefore, one of the principal objects of this invention is to provide an improved coil separator which will permit-a maximum area of contact between the gases and the coil lading in an annealing furnace.

A related object of this invention is to provide a coil separator having radially extending channels which will provide gas-to-coil contact areas extending completely from the inner wrap tothe outer wrap of the coil.

'A further object of this invention is to provide an improved coil separator which has channel openings alternately upwards anddownwards so that gas passing into the separator will be divided equally between the channels having upward and downward openings, and

thus provide a maximum heat transfer from'direct hot 'gas contact with the coil edges.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a coil separator having radiating plates which provide a' substantial base for coil edge contact, and radiating gas channels providing substantial gas-to-coil contact surface. Still a further object of this invention is to provide Patented Apr. 25, 1961 a coil separator which will be particularly effective with light gauge coils.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring tothe following description and claim taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the preferred embodiment of the device;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 1 along line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 1 along line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 1 along the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a section of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a section of an alternate embodiment; and,

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 6 taken along line 77 of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings and especially to Figure l, a coil separator 10 is shown. The separator 10 has a plurality of plates 11 in a radially spaced geometric pattern relationship; the geometric form of these plates 11 are referred to as the upper section of the device. The plates 11 of theupper section define an upper support plane. A similar group of radially spaced plates 12, in a similar geometric pattern, are referred to as a lower section. The plates 12 of the lower section define a lower support plane.

Each of the plates of the upper section are tapered in shape, or may be referred to as wedge shaped, and have a narrow inner end 13, a wider outer end 14, and spaced side edges 17. Each of the plates 12 of the lower section are wedge shaped and have a narrow inner end 15, an under outer end 16, and spaced side edges 18. The plates 11 of the upper section are arranged in a geometric radiating pattern such that there are wedge shaped spaces between adjacent plates. Each of the plates 12 of the lower section is also arranged'in a radiating geometric pattern with wedge shaped spaces between adjacent plates.

The first ends 13 of the plates lljointly define an.

inner ring, and the second ends 14 of the plates 11 jointly define an outer ring. A geometric form other than an annulus with circular inner and outer rings is obviously possible if desired.

- The upper and lower sections are superposed and indexed with respect to each other such that each plate is aligned with a space between the plates of the other. Each edge 17 of the plates 11 of the upper section is vertically superposed with respect to an edge 18 of the plates 1'2 of the lower section.

A plurality of radial support ribs 21 interconnects each pair of aligned plate edges 17, 18. The ribs 21 are spaced from each other in a radial pattern and extendfrom the inner ring to the outer ring. Each rib has-an upper surface 24 and a lower surface 25.

The plate ends 13 and 15 cooperate to define an inner central opening 20, and this construction defines a plurality of gas channels radiating from the central opening.

Each channel is defined by two ribs 21 alternately with For convenience in construction, and also to obtain maximum flow benefitsof the gas traveling down the gas channels, it has been found that the desired. rib construction'is as shown in Figure 5. Each rib 21 has an inner segment 22 and an outer segment 23. The outer segment 23 is thicker than the inner segment 22. Since coils are heavier at the outer wrap than at the inner wrap, the heavier ribs toward the outside give an added strength to the device. gas channel because of the fact that the ribs are more widely spaced at an area away from the central opening 20 than closer to it. The more narrow rib sections 22 provide all necessary strength for the inner area, and since they are narrow, do not block the entrance to the channels.

This new and novel construction afiords a strong, flat base for coil support as well as a substantial area of gasto-coil contact. The prior are patent, Dailey, In, 2,489,012 presents a broad flat surface and hence is good for use with light gauge coils. The light gauge metal, under annealing heat conditions, is very sensitive to uneven pressure conditions, and if a bulge, edge, or other surface configuration presents an unevenness that concentrates pressure against a localized area of the coil edge, the adjacent edges will weld together. When the coil is subsequently unrolled, the welded spots will tear away a piece from the edge. This condition is known as a sticker in the trade. Light gauge coils must be supported by broad flat surfaces which have no obstructions, in order that the expansion of the coil can take place by sliding smoothly. This invention will provide such support without obstruction, just as well as the Dailey device, but additionally provides open channels for direct gas contact. Further, the weight of this device and wasted metal in construction, is reduced by a very substantial amount. The Winder Patent No. 2,671,656 is also worthy of note to better understand the present invention. Winder provides a wedge construction, but this invention provides gas channels alternately in opposite directions as well as through each wedge shape. Cost factors are sharply in favor of this invention in comparison to Winder.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, an alternate embodiment is shown. This embodiment includes auxiliary support ribs 26 and 27. Each of the auxiliary support ribs 26 and 27 are generally radial and are carried by a plate 12 of the lower section and a plate 11 of the upper section. The ribs project to a height that is flush with the opposite support surface. These reinforcing ribs 26 and 27 support the plate span between ribs 21 under high heat conditions and add strength against sagging without materially impeding the gas flow through the gas channel.

One of the outstanding advantages of this device is that of having relatively fiat support planes without sacrificing the advantages of a relatively large area of gas-to-coil contact with the coils both above and below the separator. Because of this new and novel construction it is possible to use the device efi'ectively for both light gauge and heavy gauge coils. When using the device for light gauge They do not unnecessarily obstruct the coils it is possible to get relatively more gas-to-coil contact and still prevent stickers. It is also possible to use this device with heavy gauge coils and not sacrifice gas-tocoil contact.

Since the section designated as an upper section is identical with the section designated as a lower section, it is immaterial which section in use is positioned upwardly and which is positioned downwardly.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

A gas circulating separator adapted to be interposed between the individual coils of a vertical pile of coils bein annealed, comprising, a first series of separate plate sections lying in radial relationship in a first plan, said plate sections each having an inner edge shaped as a segment of a composite edge defining a central opening, the sections having side edges radiating from said central opening, said side edges positioned closely at said central opening with said inner edges lying along a major portion of said central opening, the side edge of each member cooperating with the adjacent like side edge of the next section to outline a radially extending vent therebetween, said plate sections each having an outer edge shaped as a segment of a composite geometric form, a second series of separate plate sections arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern substantially similar in size and form to the pattern of the first series, said series of plates of the first section superposed in stacked relationship with respect to the plates of the second series with the vents of the first series indexed with respect to the vents of the second series and with the side edges of each segment overlapped with respect to the side edges of two plate members of the opposite series defining the vent opposed to each said plate member, and a radial rib extending along each edge of each plate member interposed between the overlapped edges and welded to the overlapped plate section edges to hold the first and second series in an operative unit and to establish each vent as a deep channel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,414,130 Wilson Jan. 14, 1947 2,671,656 Winder Mar. 9, 1954 2,904,325 Jones et a1. Sept. 15, 1959 

